Clothes-wringer



rNo Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.

G. D. LEEDLE. CLOTHES WRING'ER. No. 554,939. Patented Feb. 18, 1896.

U T 1 if INVENTDR 41 7 g' CMM ATTORNEY (No Model.) 2 Sheds-Sheet 2.

G D LEEDLE CLOTHES WRINGER.

N0. 554,939. Patenteif'ah l8- 1186.-

3 v a 7 v W F a PM W INVENTUR 77 r M M%% %Li KW ATTOR N EY UNITED STATES PATENT OF ICE.

GEORGE D. LEEDLE, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

CLOTHES-WRINGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 554,939, dated February 18, 1896.

Application filed January 4, 1895. Serial No. 533,869. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE D. LEEDLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Olothes-Wringers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in clothes-wringers; and the object of my invention is to provide a wringer of simple construction in which the parts may readily adjust themselves to the work to be performed without binding or cramping, and thus relieve the same of any undue friction or wear.

A further object of my invention is to provide a new, simple, and useful bearing and support for the rollers.

A further object of my invention is to provide means for readily relieving the rollers from compression and from contact when not in use.

A further object of my invention is to simplify and improve on the general construction of wringers of this character; and to this end my invention consists in the various constructions and combinations of parts hereinafter set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a wringer embodying my invention, the parts being shown in a normally inoperative position. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same with some of the parts in a different or operative position. Fig. 3 is a detail of a shed or apron hereinafter referred to. Fig. 4 is an elevation with one end removed and some of the parts shown in section. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views of the bearings and bearing-supports for the rollers, shown in different forms. Fig. 7 is a detail view in perspective of a shield or guard used at the ends of the rollers to protect the clothes from oil. Fig. 8 is a detail view in the nature of a diagram illustrating a portion of the antifriction-bearing used with the rollers.

Like parts are represented by similar letters of reference throughoutthe several views.

In the said drawings, a a represent a main frame, which consists essentially of four frame pieces or posts a, which stand normally vertical and which are connected at the top by a cross-bar a and at thebottom by a rear cross-board a b and b are the rollers, which are formed each with a central shaft b and an outer covering of rubber or other flexible material in the usual manner. The shafts b are extended to form suitable trunnions or journals for said rollers, one of said trunnions on one of said rollers being extended sufficiently to receive a handle or crank 19 by means of which motion is imparted thereto. These rollers 12 Z) are each journaled in suitable bearings c, which rest between the posts a a at each end of the machine, and in order that these rollers may readily adjust themselves to the work to be performed, and to any position which they are liable to assume in operation, I construct these bearings, or more properly the bearing supports or casings, of a spherical form, the frame-pieces a a, which also serve as guides and supports for said bearings, being formed concave on their inner sides to receive said bearings or bearing-supports.

To provide as far as possible against friction in the operation of the wringer and of the rollers, I preferably employ ball-bearings for each of the trunnions b of said rollers, and these ball-bearings are placed within the spherical or ball-shaped bearing cases or supports, which are fitted to or journaled between the concave faces of the guiding frame-pieces a. These ball-bearings I form by placing around the shafts or trunnions b a sleeve 0, which is adapted to fit snugly thereon and turn therewith. This sleeve is provided at one end with'a shoulder 0 which is let into the bearing casing or support 0 at one end, the main body of the sleeve being'of a uniform diameter and adapted to fit at its other end in the bearing-casing, which is bored out to receive the same. About this sleeve is placed a separating collar or sleeve 0 which is provided with suitable openings 0 to receive the antifriction-balls. These balls may be adapted to run in grooves c in the outer casing, as shown in Fig. 6, being arranged for this purpose in one or more parallel rows in the length of the sleeve 0, or they may be placed in series around the sleeve and across the same, as indicated in Fig. 5 and as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 8, this being the preferable way. By this construction a limited number of the balls are used, and they are separated one from the other by means of the spacing-sleeve or collar 0 At the same time the balls are distributed practically from one end of the sleeve to the other, and each has a separate track in which it travels, thus distributing the wear over the largest possible surface.

To provide for separating the rollers when not in use, so that a free circulation of air between said rollers for the purpose of drying the same may be permitted, I preferably connect the frame and guiding posts a together at a point between the rollers. This is preferably accomplished by means of a plate cl, which has a projecting loop (1 extending laterally therefrom. This loop (1 is formed on its side to fit the concave faces of the guiding or frame posts a, and a bolt or other suitable connection (Z extends through the side pieces of the frame and through openings (1 in said loop, so as to secure the same firmly in position at a point midway between the rollers when in their operative position. This plate (I is also extended in opposite directions from the loop and provided with slotted openings d to fit over the trunnions or shafts Z1 of the rollers and thus form guard-plates or shields at the ends of said rollers for protecting the articles passing through the same from. oil or dirt from the bearings. This loop (1 on the plated, and its supporting bolt or connection, forms a support for the upper roller (2 to prevent its dropping beyond its proper limit, the spherical bearing-cases 0 being adapted to stand 011 opposite sides of said loop whenever the rollers are brought together in their proper operative position, the loop being adapted to in fact limit each of the rollers as they are forced together.

The outer peripheries of the bearingcases may be grooved, as shown at c, to accommodate the connecting-bolt (P, which holds the plate (1. The bearing-cases c of each of the rollers at each end rest in contact with the movable bearing-blocks 0, each of which has a concave seat where it contacts with the bearing case. These blocks 0, as are the bearing-cases, are duplicates one of the other, there being four of each, one of each at each end of each roller, those blocks of the upper roller being above the bearing cases and those of the lower roller being below the bearing-eases. Each of these bearing-blocks c is provided at one side with a loop 6 and a depressed seat 0 and a spring f is projected at each end into the recessed bearings e and through the loops c of the upper bearingblocks, and an adj usting-screwf is provided, which extends through the cross-bar a in. the usual way, to adjust the tension of said spring and thus force the upper rollerlb downwardly and yieldingly. The concave watershed a, which extends across the frame below the lower roller, is also provided with extending lugs g, which extend through the loops eand rest in the bearing-seats e of the lower bearing-supports 6, so as to support the same. This plate or water-shed a is not secured rigidly to the frame a a, but is adapted to move vertically between the frame-pieces a. It is provided at each end with camshaped bearing-plates g, each of which fits a correspondingly cam-shaped projection on a hinged arm g". These hinged arms g are provided with thumb-screws and are adapted, when turned at right angles to the plate or water-shed a to furnish the means for connecting the wringer to a tub or other suitable support. These hinged clamping-arms g have trunnions which are supported by and pivoted in suitable ears or lugs formed on the spacing-blocks 7 secured between the frame posts by bolts 01' other suitable connections, said blocks resting at each end against the frame-posts, so as to space said posts at the bottom. These blocks 9'' are each preferably provided with an upwardly-projecting plate 9", which extends upwardly beyond the bearing-block e and serves as a guide for the same. Each block is also further provided with an outwardly-extending lug or projection 9 which projects beyond the end of the frame a a and is rounded or beveled at each end, as shown in Fig. 5, so as to fit against the inner wall of a tub when the wriuger is clamped thereto. \Vhen the hinged clamp ing-arms g are turned to their outward positions, as indicated in Fig. 2, the cam-faces thereon will cause the plate a to be elevated, thus elevating the bearing-supports c and bearing-cases 0, so as to raise the roller Z) to its operative position. hen turned to the position indicated in Fig. 1, the roller will drop by gravity, so as to separate the rollers b and b, as shown in Fig. 1, the upper roller being prevented from dropping down beyond its proper limit by the plate (l and the projecting loop (1'.

To one side of the plate a and at each end thereof is pivoted a hinged plate or apron it, which, when the clamping-arms g are turned inwardly, drops down by gravity and stands substantially in line with the frame-posts a, said hinged arms being adapted to contact with said plate and return it to an inclined position to form a guide or apron for the articles passing through the wringer, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 4. This plate or apron h I preferably construct at each end with projecting trunnions h, which are formed integral therewith. These trunnions engage in cars [L2 formed on the plate or concave a, the trunnions h being of a length equal to twice the thickness of said ears 71, so that the trunnions may be placed in said ears when the concave plate a is removed from the frame, the parts being held in their engaged position however, when placed in the frame, inasmuch as the trunnions h stand flush with the outer face of said ears and would therefore contact with the frame-posts. This construction permits the parts to be readily put together, and when in their operative position to be held IIO firmly without the necessity of rivets or other similar connections.

It will be seen that by the above constructions I provide a wringer which is at once simple in its construction and at the same time capable of any adjustment in the work to which it may be called upon to do. The outer spherical bearing-cases journaled in the concave posts enable the rollers to be elevated or depressed at one end only, and thus assume any angle with reference to each other, without the possibility of cramping the bearings or producing any unnecessary wear or strain thereon. The addition of the ballbearings Within the bearing-cases relieves the trunnions of wear and causes them to operate with but little friction. The arrangement of the hinged arms and the concave plate with the bearing-supports permits the ready adjustment of the roller to its proper position for use, and at the same time permits the parts to be folded in a small compass when not in use, with the'result that the rollers are separated to permit a free circulation of air between the same.

I have shown the bearings or bearing-cases as limited by loops on the plate d.

It is obvious that the loop may be dispensed with and the bolt d alone be used to limit the movement of the bearings, or any other form of stop may be used for this purpose.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a wringer, the combination with the frame and the compression-rollers, of universal bearings for said rollers consisting essentially of bearing-boxes having ball-shaped or spherical exteriors, concave bearing-supports for said bearing-boxes, and concave guides for said bearing-boxes forming part of said frame, substantially as specified.

2. In a wringer, the combination with the rollers, and bearings for said rollers having ball-shaped exteriors, guiding-posts having concave faces to fit said ball-shaped exteriors, bearing-blocks having concave seats for said bearings, and means, substantially as described, for adjusting said bearing-blocks to adjust said rollers, substantially as specified.

3. The combination in a wringer and with the rollers thereof, means for limiting the downward movement of the upper roller, a plate or water-shed having projecting ends to engage the bearings of the lower roller, of a hinged apron hinged to said plate, and hinged clamping-arms adapted when turn'ed to one position to elevate said plate and thus raise said roller and at the same time turn said apron on its hinged connection, substantially as specified.

4. The combination with the rollers and with the guiding-posts, of the plate 61 having the loop d, devices for securing said plate to said posts, and a ball or spherical shaped bearing above and below said loop and adapted to support the rollers, substantially as specified.

5. The combination with the frame and frame-posts, spacing or supporting blocks secured between said posts, hinged arms pivoted to said blocks, and a plate extending between said frame-posts so as to contact at each end with said hinged arms, cam-faces on said arms and plate respectively, a roller j ournaled in suitable bearings in said frame, loops on said bearings, and projections on said plate to engage said loops whereby said roller is elevated and depressed as the hinged arms are turned to different positions, substantially as specified.

6. In a wringer the combination with the compressing-rollers, and bearings for said rollers having ball-shaped exteriors, guidingposts having concave faces to fit said ballshaped exteriors, bearing-blocks having concave seats for said bearings, and antifrictionbearing devices within said ball-shaped bearings, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of December, A.D.1894.

GEORGE D. LEEDLE.

\Vitnesses:

CHAS. I. WELcH, PAUL A. STALEY. 

